The Eden Project

[Neofolis]

OK, it's hardly an exotic location, but I thought it would be worth posting a few pics of my October visit.

This is an outside view of the larger greenhouse (biome), which is themed as "humid tropics"

This is the slightly smaller biome, which is host to "warm temperate" species.

A waterfall inside the humid tropics biome, which is a major source of humidity for the biome.

[Neofolis]

Looking in the other direction, the waterfall becomes a small river/stream with palms in the distance.

This image gives some idea of the scale of the biome.

A nice view of some of the lower canopy area.

[spockvr6]

That is unbelievable!

Where is this located?

[Neofolis]

One of the wider paths through the jungle, it's easy to forget that you are in a greenhouse walking through here.

A nice array of canopy and understorey palms.

A small group of Dypsis ?, I assume, unfortunately there were very few labels in the humid tropics biome.

[spockvr6]

(Neofolis @ Dec. 22 2006,09:15)

QUOTE

A small group of Dypsis ?, I assume, unfortunately there were very few labels in the humid tropics biome.

I think those might be Roystonea.

[Neofolis]

There are various objects of interest, like the building on the right here.

A large Ravanala in the distance.  It's size was very impressive when I was stood right next to it.

Another view across a canopy.

[Neofolis]

(spockvr6 @ Dec. 22 2006,14:14)

QUOTE

That is unbelievable!

Where is this located?

Sorry Larry, so busy posting pictures I didn't notice your reply.  It's in Cornwall, South West England.  It's the mildest area in the country in terms of winter lows, although I don't suppose that matters too much in there.

[Neofolis]

A small wooden bridge across the lagoon area.

Another view of the lagoon.

Another picture of tropical England.

[Neofolis]

This is the central area of the warm temperate biome, which has been deliberately planted more sparsely.

Howea forsteriana in the warm temperate biome.

I assume this is a Joey sp. in the humid tropics again.

[Neofolis]

There are plenty of plants outisde as well, although obviously less tropical.  A field of Musa, (basjoo) I assume.

Looking down over a load of Dicksonia antarctica, most of which were donated having been seized by customs for illegal import.

The only cycad I recall seeing was this revoluta in the warm temperate biome.

[Neofolis]

The large palms in the centre of the warm temperate area are Washingtonia robusta

and Phoenix dactylifera.

Most of the other plants are dry climate plants like this Agave americana.

[Neofolis]

Agave deserti

Aloe aborescens

Aloe barberae

[Neofolis]

Aloe ferox, you can see the landscaping looks quite appropriate.

Aloe ferox again

Yucca whipplei, I hadn't heard of this one before.

[Neofolis]

That'll do for now, this picture posting is rather time consuming.  I'll get around to doing the October trip to Kew at some point.  Fortunately, everything was labelled at Kew, so I managed to identify the photos better.

[Jeff Searle]

Wow,

    What a great place to visit. The diversity looks really interesting. And everthing seems to be doing real well inside. Thanks for sharing these pictures. I never knew this garden existed.

Jeff

[Kathy]

That is jaw-dropping Corey!  How was this huge project financed?  And how long did it take to build or how long has it been there?  Other-worldly.

[Neofolis]

I'm not exactly sure how it was financed, I believe there were various investors, but it is run by a charity organisation, with there focus being on raising a better lifestyle for the people who harvest these plants, etc. in habitat.  Most of the plants in the humid tropics area are some form of crop, bananas, coffee, mango, spices, oil palms, etc.

I'm not exactly sure of the other details either, it is fairly recent, but I'm sure it has been there for over five years now.

You can probably get all of the answers at their website, here.

[Kris]

Dear NeoFolis  

I have no words in praise of your lovely stills !

i have never been to england,but that igloo's looked

very very femilar to me_whare have i seen it ?

yes i have seen it in James bond's_007(Die another day)

perice brosmen is seen getting down through a steel wire

from this very igloo(but was stated as it is in iceland).

if guys have not seen it please see that movie.

And iam curious to know is this igloo's are there climate control

mechanism(or heaters to make the tropical plants feel at home)And the water temperature in that waterfall is it regulated too,since this cold weather with cold water spraying

around can be catastropic ? is the water warm to feel ?

one again thanks for those terrefic stills.

Love,

Kris(India).

[iwan]

Just what I need in my backyard!.

[Neofolis]

I imagine the water in the waterfall is just circulated with very little need to replenish it, so I expect it to be "room" temperature.  I assume there is some form of artificial heat, in the humid biome at least, as it has always felt very tropical in there when I have been, even early in the morning I suspect temperatures are not much below 30°C/86°F.  Interestingly they have tried to minimize maintenance by creating a self contained eco-system, so there are birds in there that prey on the insects that could cause damage, etc.

I did notice that there are mist nozzles as well to maintain humidity and whilst these are mains fed with cold water, much of the water atomises before coming into contact with the plants and what does condense on leaves, etc. will warm up quite a lot before condensing, due to the small droplet size and time in the air.

I just wish my greenhouse was this large, mostly from space point of view, but also it must be a lot easier to create a stable artificial environment.

[Neofolis]

Going back to funding again, I think they have received reasonable sums of money from the national lottery comission.

[Kris]

Dear Neofolis  

thanks for the info & prompt reply.

Love,

Kris.

[Zac in NC]

I agree with Larry on the Roystoneas. Great set of pictures Corey.  I noticed Amorphophallus of some species in the shot with the Joey. The bananas do not look like basjoo to me, more like an edible of some kind, Orinoco perhaps.

Zac

[bgl]

Corey,

That's an amazing place. Never heard of it!

Bo-Göran

[Bilbo]

Sorry guys but I reckon its plastic trash and Im honest in my opinions - sorry!

Juan

[mike453]

My neighbors might feel the same way if I built one in my backyard, but that would not stop me. I think it's great, and thanks for the pictures Corey.

                Regards, Mike

[Neofolis]

I have to say Jon, I don't really agree with their ethic.  Whilst I appreciate the need to improve the working & living conditions of plantation workers, the place is all about what plants can do for people and I would prefer it to be about what people can do for plants, preservation of habitat, etc.

I was also a little disappointed with the humid tropics biome this time, because it has become very overgrown since my previous visit, so it is difficult to see the plants, plus, as mentioned, most aren't labelled.

[Gileno Machado]

Corey:

I saw a few pictures of this Eden Project when Kev Spencer mentioned it in the previous board. This place is incredible...I wonder if there are any insects living inside too...is everything planted directly on the ground?...all the plants look perfect !

[Neofolis]

Yes Gileno, there are insects, small birds and I think frogs as well.  Everything is planted in the ground in a soil/compost that they made themselves, I think out of material that was excavated from the site when they originally built it.

[Walter John]

Lots of brownish looking palm leaves.

[Alberto]

(iwan @ Dec. 22 2006,10:34)

QUOTE

Just what I need in my backyard!.

......Here are the amazonian palms....There are my Joeys and Roystoneas...overthere my  25 lipsticks....my rare Dypsis and I drink the water of my own cocos....Dreaming  ..................................

[Neofolis]

(Wal @ Dec. 23 2006,00:24)

QUOTE

Lots of brownish looking palm leaves.

I get the impression they try to leave it, as much as possible to it's own devices, although I noticed in Kew there were also quite a lot of palms that didn't look as healthy as they could.

[Neofolis]

(Zac in NC @ Dec. 22 2006,16:41)

QUOTE

I agree with Larry on the Roystoneas. Great set of pictures Corey.  I noticed Amorphophallus of some species in the shot with the Joey. The bananas do not look like basjoo to me, more like an edible of some kind, Orinoco perhaps.

Zac

I'm a little surprised that the bananas are not basjoo, but like I said, they have very mild winters there, so there are quite a few things that will survive outside there that probably wouldn't in other areas of the country.

[SubTropicRay]

Neo, what a phenomenal place!  I would love to visit someday.

[DoomsDave]

Neo!

That's incredible.  Those domes look to be multi acre in size.

The Cornwall site was chosen, I assume, to reduce the heating bill?

That warm temperate dome looks like my garden . . . .

dave

[Neofolis]

I would imagine it was more a question of real estate cost Dave, though I dare say there were other considerations, geology, etc.  Whilst the winters are milder in terms of absolute lows, the difference would be minimal, in terms of annual average temperature, from many other areas.  That said, probably the most important factor, in terms of heating cost, would be hours of sunlight which are generally better near the coast, but Cornwall is actually one of the poorer areas in this regard.

[Bilbo]

Sorry Corey but .  .  .

many years ago a well known IPS member stated that a C.nucifera could grow in Moscow given heating and a large enough plastic tent (and presumably the correct humidity too).

The point is anything can be grown in a greenhouse.

Now I do happen to like Cornwall and there are two particular unprotected gardens that can grow almost everything at Eden Project.

1) Tresco Island - OK 28 miles off shore in the Gulf Stream.

2) Lammorran House which is on the mainland.

Even here in Sussex I can grow many a subtropical and none are ever covered.

Im not knocking the Eden Project if it can get at least one person interested in palms and exotics and Im certain if only for that reason then its got to be a success.

I am a very private, quiet kinda guy (laughter offstage) but even I will be opening my small garden in 2008 under the NGS (Yellow Book) scheme which raises money for charities including Cancer Research.

Its also a great honour to be asked.

The only small greenhouse here is solely for propogation purposes.

Regardez

Juan